Happy 100th birthday, coach Thompson

ROBERT AVERY

Published 6:00 pm, Sunday, January 10, 2010

Photo: Robert Avery

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Photo: Robert Avery

Happy 100th birthday, coach Thompson

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Ned Thompson has had a lot of great days in his life, especially as head basketball and football coach for Pasadena High School in the mid-1940s, but Saturday afternoon he got to add one more to the column of great days in his life.

With over 80 well-wishers on hand at The Monument Inn, Thompson was given a big birthday bash as he soaked in the celebration of his 100th birthday.

“This is a great day for me,” said Thompson in a pretty strong voice after he was handed the microphone and thanked all of his former players and others for coming to his very special party.

As the party’s unofficial emcee said, Thompson’s voice was strong enough that he could probably still tell someone to go take a lap.

Thompson, who was born on Jan. 10, 1910, received hugs and handshakes from all around as more Thompson stories and the superb teams he coached were relived once again. It has become a January tradition to hold a birthday party for coach Thompson at the Monument Inn and the stories just get richer and more colorful with each passing year, especially with the guest of honor in the same room every year.

His greatest feat as head coach came in the winter of 1946 when Pasadena captured the Class 1A state basketball championship, following a 50-35 win over Levelland High School. Known as an innovator at the time that got the most talent out of his clubs, no 1A team had ever scored 50 points in a game since the state formed a 1A division. It wouldn’t be until the 1951 state championship game before Pasadena’s 50 points was surpassed.

Bill Henry, the team’s starting forward was on hand for his coach’s 100th birthday as was Raymond Bond, a guard. Henry is best known for playing 16 seasons in the Major Leagues.

On a back table, there were team photos of Thompson’s clubs in both football and basketball.

“Really, he was the basketball coach. He coached football, he coached track. He kept the field, everything at that time. He was a very quiet type person. He never hollered. If he told you something, you went out and did it. He taught how to block and tackle. If you could block and tackle and go three yards, you were going to score a touchdown and you’re going to win the game. They can’t score if you’ve got the ball. That’s the way we played. We were the biggest, strongest, ugliest bunch out there,” 1945 quarterback Earlyn Frazier said.

Another former player fought back tears as he spoke to the partygoers, thanking coach Thompson for the knowledge and time he shared with him so many years ago.

“He’s been our guiding light for many, many years. He really set a good example for all of us,” George Harrison told the gathering while he spoke at the podium. “Just knowing him and having been around him all these years. Coach, we love you.”